PORT SALERNO — Brook Oser has many neighbors, but none are named fear.

Oser lives in the Manatee Creek community, which is in public's mind after a stranger lured a 10-year-old girl into the woods near Manatee Creek Park and sexually assaulted her.

The neighbors are fighting back with a "clear the brush" party at the park.

"We want people to see through the trees and know if anyone is lurking there," said Oser, who often plays at the park with her two toddler-age sons.

Starting at 9 a.m. Sunday and ending when the last weed is pulled, neighbors are inviting the public to help pull weeds and remove brush around the park. Refreshments will be served.

"We mostly need hands because we are going to need people to drag the brush to the side of the road," Oser said.

The brush party is sparked by the April 7 assault on a 10-year-old girl while her 3-year old sister watched.

The suspect is described as a white man in his 20s, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall weighing about 150 pounds, with sandy blond hair styled in a buzz cut, wearing a two-toned blue shirt and what appears to be a brace, cast or bandage on one hand. He was last seen running northeast along the railroad tracks.

So far, the suspect has not been identified.

Landscaper Alex Mednick, of Palm City, volunteered to help the group after reading a Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers article about the assault.

"Growing up, I had a close friend that something similar happened to and this definitely hits home," Mednick said. "I don't live in Port Salerno, but I live in Martin County and this is still my neighborhood."

Meanwhile, the homeowner's association is working with county officials to install a barrier along the rear of the park where it abuts the railroad tracks, neighbor Lee Behrle said.

"We're just trying to make it a better and safer community," Behrle said.